DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is using X to highlight his outreach to Michigan’s Jewish community. But his latest campaign video features two Jewish activists who were already publicly supporting his candidacy.
It was wonderful to spend Rosh Hashanah last week with Missy and Elaine, two lifelong Michiganders who welcomed me into their home and taught me about the sweet and joyous meaning of Rosh Hashanah. We talked about the work we can do together to build a more just and peaceful… pic.twitter.com/HziA6j4aTq
— Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (@AbdulElSayed) September 20, 2026
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The candidate celebrated Rosh Hashanah with Elaine Shifman and her daughter, Missy Shifman, two “lifelong Michiganders” who welcomed him into their home for the Jewish New Year. The video posted on September 19 features traditional prayers, apples being dipped in honey, and compliments about Elaine’s homemade kugel.
But a September 22 Washington Free Beacon investigation revealed that the women had previously appeared in a Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) video supporting El-Sayed. The organization is a prominent anti-Zionist organization. Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionism, the movement supporting Jewish national self-determination and the establishment and continued existence of Israel as a Jewish state.
Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the organization attributed the underlying violence to Israeli policies and expressed solidarity with Palestinian resistance. In a statement, they say, “For the past year, the most racist, fundamentalist, far-right government in Israeli history has ruthlessly escalated its military occupation over Palestinians in the name of Jewish supremacy with violent expulsions and home demolitions, mass killings, military raids on refugee camps, unrelenting siege and daily humiliation.”
The Jewish Majority, an organization critical of JVP, has accused the group of supporting Israel’s destruction and cited its statements about Palestinian resistance. The group also pointed to information alleging that JVP has called for Israel’s destruction.
Meet the Jewish Voice for Peace Connection
The Shifmans appeared in a July 29 JVP video endorsing El-Sayed, speaking out about their priorities of fighting for human rights and social justice.
A Family With Political Connections
The Shifmans weren’t just some random family El-Sayed happened to sit down with for a meal. They have longstanding ties to progressive activism. Pamela Shifman, Elaine’s daughter and Missy’s sister, is president of Democracy Alliance, a progressive donor network with funding from George Soros. A 2021 Jewish Telegraphic Agency profile highlights the family’s longstanding involvement in social justice causes, including mother, Elaine, a retired public school teacher, who regularly stood outside in Detroit on Mondays holding a “Black Lives Matter” sign to promote racial justice.
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During the Rosh Hashanah visit, Missy praised El-Sayed’s healthcare platform, while the candidate thanked them for the food and fellowship. The published video did not address their positions on Israel.
A Jewish Community With Different Views
El-Sayed’s “outreach” comes amid disagreements with many Jewish Democrats over his position on Israel, his association with controversial streamer Hasan Piker and his initial response to the March attack on Temple Israel. El-Sayed subsequently apologized for his remarks about the attack and has met with rabbis.
The Shifmans, however, needed no introduction to El-Sayed’s campaign. They had already publicly endorsed him months before welcoming him into their home for Rosh Hashanah. Their appearance in his latest video highlights support he already has within some of Michigan’s Jewish community, rather than an effort to win over those who have raised concerns about his positions.
